N2.8bn fraud - NAMA MD granted N20m bail

dimeji akinloye

April 12, 2016 9:13 PM

Abdulsam allegedly diverted N2.8 billion belonging to NAMA to his private account.

The Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency,

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) first arraigned Abdulsalam and six others on April 7, on 21-count charges.

Other accused are Adegorite Olumuyiwa, Agbolade Segun, Clara Aliche and Joy Adegorite and one Nnamdi Udoh, who said to still be at large.

They were re-arraigned on Tuesday, April 12, following an amendment to the charge sheet, with additional two accused persons – Bola Akinribido and Sesebor Abiodun.

At their bail hearing on Tuesday, all the defendants pleaded not guilty after which the defence counsel, Mr. O. Akoni (SAN), urged the court to admit them to bail in liberal terms.

The presiding judge, Justice Babs kwuemi thereby admitted each of the accused persons to a N20 million bail with one surety in like sum.

READ: NAMA boss remanded in prison over alleged N2.8bn fraud

Among the accused persons were also two companies – Randville Investment Limited and Multeng Travels and Tours Limited.

In the charge presented before the court by its prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo, the EFCC accused Abdulsam and his alleged accomplices of fraudulently diverting various sums running into N2.8 billion belonging to NAMA to their private use.

They were accused of inducing NAMA to deliver part of the money in several tranches to three companies – Delosa Ltd, Air Sea Delivery Ltd and Sea Schedules Systems Ltd – under the pretense that the money was the cost of clearing some consignments belonging to NAMA.

They were also accused of fraudulently converting part of the money, which the EFCC said was proceeds of theft from NAMA, to their private own.

The alleged fraud was said to have been perpetrated in Lagos between August 2013 and January 2016.

dimeji akinloye